This cat photo exhibition is dedicated to our furry feline friends who never fail to sniff out a warm out-of-reach spot to curl up in any corner at any place of the world... We hope to celebrate their grace, mischief, craftiness, aloofness and sloth with the photos pooled together from all cat-loving photographers; amateurs to professionals.

Herald in a time of festive
celebration at the Goddess Purrzaar
market, where Cats of the World Purrzaar collaborates with Goddess Marketplace
to bring you the very best of all things magical, feline-inspired and sacred.

Over 34 vendors are gathered
together to offer a multi-dimensional pop-up retail experience at the trendy
restaurant and lounge, Kilo. Head to the second floor where cat lovers can lap
up the Purrzaar market brimming with cat-inspired artworks and wares, pet accessories
and dietary needs, handmade jewellery and crafts, plus gourmet granola, nut
butters, and Asian brews – all from local food purveyors, designers and artists.
Palate Sensations culinary studio is also offering a spread of Spanish
empanadas, savoury quiches and sweet tarts.

On the eighth floor,
Goddess Marketplace has lined up a range of spiritual tools such as crystals, healing
oils, sage and incense, to intuitive and artistic attunement classes, tarot and
akashic readings. There will be fun Brazilian Samba demos, coupled with organic
health delights and delish confectionary. So get on top of your Christmas
shopping and New Year resolutions with these purrfect, divine gifts of love and
light.

All ceramic items are 100% handmade by
Amy with lots of love! Expect a pottery wonderland where cute little cats and
bunnies jump and hop around in mugs and bowls. This Christmas, newly
created panda mugs and a wide selection of cat brooches will be for sale too. Visit: Amywooceramics.blogspot.com

Bandit

Dangerously glam, decidedly edgy,
Bandit's line of handcrafted wrist bling and neck candy will add a little
sparkle and whole lot of attitude to your wardrobe. Each piece is meticulously
made with quality hardware, fine threads and embellishments sourced from all
over the world. Prices start at $49. Custom pieces are also available. Visit:
instagram @we_love_bandit

Cat Welfare Society

Grab their range of cute merchandise
such as the new 2015 calendars, latest shirts, bags, books, and catnip toys for
the kitties. There are also cats up for adoption at the market. Visit: www.catwelfare.org

Cats
Of The World

Lap up the cat postcards for sale, as
well as limited-edition carry-all tote bags and hand-painted glasses with Cats and Christmas motifs.

GoNuts is set up by a Singaporean girl
and Canadian guy with three demanding cats in Singapore. For them, healthy food
is minimally processed. They
have tried every nut
butter available in Singapore, and were not satisfied with the taste, texture
and quality, so they decided to make their own such as Classic Macadamia,
Hazelnut Honey, and Cashew Ginger that use ingredients like organic ginger,
wild honey, raw cocoa and even sugar/nitrate free bacon!

Grab these colourful and cute collars
designed for cats and dogs. With every collar, GOOOD Pet Collars will donate 5
cans of cat food to their adopted animal shelter. Visit: www.gooodpetcollars.com

Howlistic
Life

At Howlistic Life, every pet product is
100% human grade. Not compromising on quality, its range including wild fish
oils and colloidal silver are fit for human consumption. Howlistic Life
believes that pets are part of the family and should be treated and fed with
quality products. It is the proud Distributor of K9 Natural, Dom & Cleo
Organics, Wildwash all natural skin and coat product line for pets, Feline
Natural raw cat food made in NZ, and Dear Deer 100% natural and free-dried treats
made from free-range grass-fed deers in NZ.

Momshoo is a mother-and-daughter crafting duo who
design whimsical creations using traditional techniques of hand-sewing and
knitting. Momshoo is all about handmade items that are unique and personal,
very much like a home-made gift from a friend. For the Purrzaar, they will
offer special festive-edition fish cat toys and canvas pouches, together with their
wonderful range of cat pins, cat nap eye pillows and passport covers. Visit: www.facebook.com/momshoo

Oatsie's Trunk

Expect a range of cuddly pet-shaped
cushions which are hand-drawn to proportions before they are being cut and
sewn. These one-of-its-kind customised dog and cat designs come complete with
pretty ribbon collars and trinkets! There are also pretty purses, cushion
covers, and tote bags in lovely fabrics. Visit: www.etsy.com/shop/oatsiestrunk

Palate Sensations

Culinary studio, Palate Sensations, is
offering a range of gourmet baked goods and sweet treats specially at the
Purrzaar. Executive Chef Ruth Mesonero will make her Spanish
specialty, empanadas, as well as savoury quiches, potato tortilla,
chocolate tart, and almond tarts. They are also handing out free
cat-shaped cookies and $30 gift vouchers with every food purchase. Visit www.palatesensations.com

Puffingmuffin

An illustrator and character designer
based in Singapore, Puffingmuffin’s goofy creations are born from mindless
doodles and inspired by anything, and everything. She explores the twisted —
sometimes less than desirable — bond among quirky characters that are caught in
whimsical worlds. Through her relatable work, she hopes to put a smile on
everyone’s face.Look out for her accessories crafted/hand-painted with
love, that includes stickers, badges, purses and customized greeting cards on
the spot for the festive season. She will also be drawing portraits at the
Purrzaar. Visit: www.puffingmuffin.com / www.facebook.com/puffingmuffin

SlothStudio

Art products like notebooks, wearable
art, pouches etc are handmade from artworks of two local artists, Ng Ling Tze
aka Tamaow and Terence Koh aka Sloth. Both artists have always enjoyed the
company of cats and get inspired to interpret them in the artworks. Their
services also include graphic design, pet portrait painting and mural painting
commission.

Whimsy and Magic is all about unique
handmade artisan jewelry with designs that are inspired by nature and
all things beautiful around us (especially
the floras and faunas). Through its handmade items, it hopes
to bring the wonders of Mother Nature closer to one’s heart. Visit:www.whimsyandmagic.blogspot.sg / www.facebook.com/whimsyandmagic

Goddess
Marketplace Vendors

Aurora
Alchemy Healing Oils

Enjoy these sacred powerful healing potions that are
packed with essential oils, crystals, flowers and herbs. These highly
sought-after Goddess oils give an immediate energy boost to your body, mind and
spirit. It’s perfect for the spirit of Gifting. Some of the house favourites
can be found in handy 10ml bottles. Plus Happy Purrzaar day prices for regular
25ml bottles.

Expect delicious and divine
homemade cupcakes and cookies that use the freshest ingredients without any
preservatives or artificial flavouring. Baked and sold within 24 hours, the
confectionary are sugar-coated with homemade reduced-sugar marshmallow
fondant, and crowned with magical symbols and icons. Savour the divine
unicorn and rainbow cupcakes at the market.

Cosset

Cosset
believes that clothes can be more than just looking good, it can help you to
feel good too. Made with incredibly soft, luxurious and sustainable bamboo
fabric, Cosset’s buildable basics are so versatile, you can wear them from work
to working out, or from lounging to travelling. Plus this brand is about
planetary consciousness as every time you shop, Cosset gives back 1% to the
planet.

Gain insight into the past as Tarra Tae from Full
Circle SG takes one back to key pivotal moments in his/her Akashic Record,
wherein lies the key to liberation and healing. As she works with your guides
and Ascended Masters, you’ll be taken back safely into past core wounds,
sending healing into the present and ultimately your future. Visit: www.fullcircle.sg

Galactic
Shields

Galactic Shields are individualized personal geomancy
channeled from a Higher Dimension to align your physical, mental, emotional
body and soul. This 3-D divine matrix and blueprint in the form of geometric
grid shapes is a reflection of one’s personal Energy field and Cosmic DNA. It
activates the individual’s portal beyond time and space to achieve optimum
results in protection, healing, meditation and exploration of Light codes
within.

Goddess
Dividends

Goddess Dividends presents a bounty of goodies with
wild-harvested white ceremonial sage, intimately-curated crystals, hand-crafted
gratitude journals, sound healing tools and magical pouches. Expect more gifts,
creativity and insights to open up by signing up for the artistic and intuitive
attunement classes and workshops at Holyday Within.

Ignite your sacred flame with the Brazilian Samba or
Samba nó Pe - the perfect way to honour the fiery, passionate Goddess within.
Feel and learn the pulsing Samba rhythm with Samba Goddesses, Farah and Nor, as
they take you through a fun and liberating journey to health. Fusion
classes, Goddess Samba Yoga and Vida Yoga are also available. Demonstrations will
be held at certain times throughout the day. Visit: www.ishtarbee.com

La Luce

Home chef Cheryl will be whipping up
some of her favourite family's culinary dishes such as garlic bread, mushroom
soup and tiramisu. Purchase her delectable homemade garlic herb spreads – an
ideal takeaway for the festive parties.

Pen
International

Pick some of your favourite authors and magical
oracles carried by Pen International. Among the best top-selling spiritual books,
tarot and oracle decks, and CDs, shoppers will be able to pick up something
life-changing for themselves, friends and loved ones.

Perfect
Timing

From greeting cards to space clearing tools,
Perfect Timing offers magical items that will help
light up your path and colour it divine. Do come by to take a whiff of the
sacred Palo Santo incense to ignite your senses.

Sun GoddessTarot

Looking for directions
in your career or relationship? End the year right and kickstart 2015
with an insightful reading with Joanna Ash who will be providing intuitive
readings, combining multiple metaphysical modalities of Tarot and Numerology
with her clairvoyance. Her refreshing style aims to provide options for
one to make the right choices and achieve the desired outcome. www.sungoddesstarot.com

SuperNatural

SuperNatural brings you the best of
Mother Earth's nourishing gifts for humanity. You’ll be able to pick up
delicious superfood like organic Hempseed oil, raw organic honey and yummy
Dukkah from Australia. It's time we eat to love ourselves. So get
that SuperNatural glow and inside
out beauty as you activate your self-healing
power. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ilovesupernatural/

STIKK

Designed for ease of wear, fun and adjustability,
Stikk is a range of casual pants that are fastened by Velcro. The idea behind
it is simple – pull it on, stick it down, and flip it over. It’s perfect for a
day at the beach or hanging out at the pool, and great for expectant mums who
are growing by the day and want to get around in light, comfy, and adjustable
bottoms that will see them through their pregnancy.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Cats Of The World is pleased to organise our first Cat Photography Workshop

at Singapore's first cat cafe, Neko No Niwa on 22 November Saturday!

We had an intimate and fun session with 16 participants, as I (Carlyn) and our friend/ contributing photographer (Ketan) shared our experience, photo criteria and tips on capturing cats with the lens.

The talk is focused on understanding our exhibition goals and what kind of cat photos we are looking for. Here's a quick run-down of what we talked abut:

·HOW we started?

Our friends and I love photographing cats on our travels and we pooled together our pics in 2007 for a small exhibition. Now it has grown bigger and attracted over 10,000 visitors this year at the Arts House.

·WHY we did it?

We want to use the exhibition to showcase the beauty of cats - and that they are such amazing creatures all over the world! We also want to raise awareness of our community cats, raise funds for Cat Welfare Society in Singapore and spread the love for cats.

·WHO can take part?

Anyone and everyone - who has an eye for capturing the beauty and quirks of cats! Now here's where our photo criteria comes in...

Photo by Ketan Shah in Singapore

Capturing a Cat’s Characteristics

What make cats unique? It's their characteristics, including their hunter instincts, predator's behaviour, curiosity, patience, independence, among others.

Capturing the Purrsonality of that Cat

As cat owners and lovers, we know that every cat is different - just like every person is unique. A cat can be shy, brave, friendly, affectionate, naughty, haughty, funny, sad, etc - but there's no denying they are always cute!

Showcasing the Country's Setting

Besides the cats as the subjects, we also want to showcase the country via its breathtaking scenery, seasons and people.

Telling a Story via the Context

A picture speaks a thousand words. A really great picture does not need captions. Some of the best pics we have seen convey emotions, provoke thought, and offer humour. They also highlight the cats' roles in a society, in our community and their relationships with the people around them - from kids to the elderly.

Quality of Photos

With the advanced smart phones and digital cameras
these days, equipment doesn't really matter as long as you can get a clear quality
shot to be printed into A4 size. The exhibition has featured beautiful shots taken by phones before (refer to the pic below). It’s about mastering your
equipment.

TIPS on photographing cats!

*Be prepared

Applying what you understand about cat behaviour, be prepared when you see a cat on the street or at home. Be opportunistic and get your camera ready when it sneaks up on its prey, pounces, scuttle, jump, groom each other, etc.

*Be smart

You will develop a sense about where to find cats, whether in Singapore or overseas. You can find them in back alleys, food centres, markets, temples, etc. Keep your eyes open and you'll find these 'invisible citizens' of the world. Rope in your travel companions to help look out for cats too.

*Be very patient

Now the role is reversed, you are the hunter and you have to stalk the cats, sometimes for a very long time before the purrfect shot comes along! Know how to win their trust and and make them feel comfortable. I once played with 2 gingers in Italy on the streets and they led me to a ledge and began playing and grooming each other for nearly an hour. That's when I got the right shot I was waiting for.

Take risks...

Don't just settle for standard cute photos of cats - yes people love them! But try to frame the pictures in an unexpected angle, go for different moods and play with contrast and colours. The cats don't have to be big in the foreground, they can blend into the picture for an artistic feel. For our exhibition, we are always striving to balance artistic and cute pictures of cats.

Jarvis My Muse

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Kitty Speak

"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated." - M. Gandhi

"As every cat owner knows, nobody owns a cat." - Ellen Perry Berkeley

"The cat could very well be man's best friend but would never stoop to admitting it." - Dough Larson"Ignorant people think it is the noise which fighting cats make that is so aggravating, but it ain't so; it is the sickening grammar that they use." - Mark Twain

"Cats are rather delicate creatures and they are subject to a good many ailments, but I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia." - Joseph Wood Krutch

"If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much." - Albert Schweitzer

"If a dog jumps into your lap, it is because he is fond of you; but if a cat does the same thing, it is because your lap is warmer." - Alfred North Whitehead

Cats do care. For example, they know instinctively what time we have to be at work in the morning and they wake us up twenty minutes before the alarm goes off. - Michael Nelson

"Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow." - Jeff Valdez